Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-09-10

|
started out together.
'Do you ever intend to live here,
Mr.. Weber ?" l asked by way of max
ing talk.
"'Um. no, / hardly think that
shall. That fancy passed away rs the
novelty of the place wore of. I hardly
Ike the impression the place gives
me-"
at seems rather GLOOMY" replied
We passed from one apartment to
another, up, down. ali over the mouldy
old white marble palace. and at length
we three paused in little room th
three of its sides composed of finely
scuiptured marble columns connected
with the most delicate lattice work.
"My Lady's bower" cried Maud.
gavly fitting about the room. What
II lovely place -
| Mr.. Weber did not reply. ! felt
that his eyes were fixed upon nv face.
| turned away from him and was
going over to Maui's side, when she
exclaimed. in half frightened yo c.:
oh, oh, Mr.. Weber, look here. See
whatI have done"
Mr.. Weber was ut her side instantly.
AMI after u momentarJ examination
! sail:
You have touched n spring to a
secret drawer, Miss Maud and been
fortunate enough to discover what we
have never seen before"
1t was as he said. One of the white
| marble blocks had moved forward from
| lis place in the side of the wall, and
we saw that it was followed out into
| the resemblance of drawer
AT first it seemed to be empty, but
MIR. Webcr's gray ewes had discovered
something ut the bottom.
"A ring" he or ed, bringing forth
dusty circlct of gold. Worth more
than all your fathers collection, too.
A jewel unworn $ nee the IN ddIe ages
undoubtedly. See, Miss Mablc. it las
a setting too; just note the peculiar
luster of the stone"
glanced at the jewel which I've bad
polished W tn his six handkerchief,
and it's dull, unnatural CLEAN made
me shudder. 1t reminded me of the
ght in the eve Of Il serpent.
This jewel must have an owner"
sa d Alr. Weber, looking straight at
me. Bat which of the two fair dam
sells shall it be?'
He held it up as he spoke and Maud
blushed ROSY red.
Mr.. Weber moved a little nearer
toward me. 1t seemed as if | were to
lie bis choice.
| turned quickly and ran out of the
room and down the steps leading to
the hall where papa was awaiting us.
/ Il t,,l1 4, a
| could not help eagerly waiting for
the appearance of Mr.. Weber and my
sister.
They came at last. and ! saw that.
the ring encircIed Maud's finger
Mr.. Weber began to relate the
strange circumstance and Maud came |
straight To ME.
''Bel, dear sister. coax papa to return
at once. i do not feel right"
did he say an things" | VIII spered.
NO I'm provoked at him; nothing
only that had a right to the ring as
lis discovercr. Let's go, papa" she
cont nued, Il am red"
glanced at her face. 1t seemed as
If some light in it were extinguished,
and FASTENED our departure.
Papa could talk of nothing but
Mand's jewel all the way back to the
hotel. and L think no one noticed but
myself the death-like palOr of her face.
Il am faint" she VIII .spcred, as We
alighted ut the ladies' entrance.
Lean on me dear sister," | replied.
throw NO nv arm about her.
We had entered our room. and was
her wraps when she stag
gered and fell headlong in a faint as /
thought
l hastily called papa, and Mr.. Weber
ran for physician.
Maud could not be brought out of the
strange state into which she had fallen.
and 1T WAS with raptures that wtlcom-
ed the physician when at length lie
came.
He was an Erglishman, and we'll
learned man.
''She is dead" he said at once. 81
think she has been poisoned" 6
Every doctor in the ancient place I
was summoned. and no one of ther. q
disagreed with the verdict of the first 7
,omer.
Our darl ne. my little sister, was
lead. but who could there be that was
.nough her enemy to have wished her
leath. I
This puzzled us for hours. but nj
ength wrnkled, yellow. little old
Italian saw the ring which now lay up- r
IN our dressing table. !.
See, the cause of her deathr' he a
'rel in broken Italian. The ring. 5
he poisoned n.y." 2
His words were shortly verified r
There was tiny prncture upon 6
lauiie's finger just under the spot >
there the ring had rested, and there =
he poison had entered her system and r.
id its fatal work. 4
All the English people and the Amer "
ans in this city came to condole with Il
$, and to see the remnant of the dark a
avs of Italy. which has found its way .
the light only to deprive us of our :
airing.
1t formed q sensational item for tie
ewspapers OF several of the great CAP a
al cities of the world. and then Maud
as forgotten by all but us three. I Y
'eak in that way because Mr.. Weber
'mained with u. He told me that he
ever had cared anything for Maud w
we as for sister. having loved lie III
ON the first, and is now my own 10y "
G husband. a,
So by her death Maud was saved the II
I'm OF loving one who did not care for =,
'r, and l, too. perhaps CAMEL nv
'pp ness. for certain it is that never